Bloomingdale-Mr. Roger Maurice Ray, born August 6, 1949 to Elirse Maurice Ray and Vinetta Woods Ray, both of whom preceded him in death. Roger has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer that metastasized. He passed away at home surrounded by his family on November 18, 2016.
Roger was born in Hinesville and raised in Bloomingdale on Ash Street with his younger siblings. He became a founding member of Milton Memorial Baptist Church, later known as Ash Street Baptist Church where he was a deacon from the young age of 17. While out visiting new families in the area he met the love of his life, his wife, Julie Bailey Ray, they were married on November 29, 1969. Roger went on to serve in the USMC and then returned home to his loving wife Julie. He began his career at Union Bag after he returned home from Vietnam, now known as International Paper, Roger continued to do home improvements, landscaping and tractor work until he was no longer physically able.
Roger and Julie have two girls, Glenda Ray Criswell and her spouse, Barry Criswell and their youngest daughter Whitney Ray. Both of them are daddy's girls and are very well trained in home improvements and all things involved with hunting and fishing. As young girls, Roger took his girls everywhere and taught them both how they should be treated by their boyfriends and how he would make sure they were treated that way. Roger always got along great with his son-in-law and the two of them spent many days together hunting and running beagles. As hard as Roger tried he could never convince Barry to ride horses with him after a failed attempt.
Roger always enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseback riding, working with a tractor, growing fruits and vegetables, raising beagles, birds, and rabbits and working with his hands. Once he was blessed with grandchildren he always had them involved in his projects. He passed on his love of the outdoors to both Morgan Criswell and Garrett Criswell. Roger and Garrett always shared a special bond and at a very young age Roger taught Garrett how to shoot, a skill Roger learned in the Marines. He also had Garrett on the tractor with him from the time could hold up his head and out working on home improvement projects, all skills that Garrett will use the rest of his life. The song about how they think they are just fishing sums up their relationship, how a child only sees the fun and doesn't realize the lessons of life being learned. The same can be said for both of Roger's girls, he spent many a day riding horses and running beagles with Glenda and Whitney as well as teaching them all the importance of work ethic and honoring your word.
Roger will always be remembered as a man who loved God, a loving and faithful husband, a daddy in every sense of the word and the world's greatest papa ever.
Roger is survived by his spouse, Julie, their children, Glenda and Barry Criswell, and Whitney Ray; grandchildren, Morgan and Garrett Criswell; his siblings and the spouses, Linda Deal Smith (Dale), Carlton Ray (Holly), Maureen Ray, and Carolyn Jones (Mark); a brother-in-law, Gene Autrey and numerous nieces, nephews, an aunt, uncles, cousins and extended family as well as many lifetime friends.
The family wishes to thank Compassionate Care Hospice for all of the loving care and kindness shown during this difficult time.
The visitation will be on Sunday (today) from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The funeral will be on Monday at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the funeral home with burial to follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery.
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – West Chatham Chapel – 901 W. Hwy. 80 – Pooler, GA 31322 (912) 748-2444